Archive Internship@ Battersea Arts Centre
January - March 2013
Role title: Archive Intern
Reporting to: Foteini Aravani, Digital Collections Manager
Expenses: Reimbursement of reasonable travel costs (up to a maximum of £5 per day)
Time commitment: 2-3 days a week for 3 months (preferably Monday and Friday, from January to March 2013)
Introduction
BAC occupies an old town hall in the heart of Battersea and is renowned for making some of the most cutting-edge new theatre in the UK.
BAC is seeking two bright, enthusiastic interns to join the Archive Team for 3 months. The development of a comprehensive, accessible archive is key to Battersea Arts Centre’s vision to learn from its past and peripheries to invent the future of theatre. By underpinning heritage learning through the creation of this vital resource, BAC will be able to develop several new partnerships, new audiences and further establish itself as a learning institution. BAC Archive will create an invaluable database, helping to address the lack of digital resources available in the performing arts sector, the lack of concrete information on the history of the institution, as well as the building. The outcome of the project will be a fully organised and digitised collection of value to researchers across the country.
Role Purpose
The Archive Intern will be part of the BAC Archive project, to organize, catalogue, digitise and disseminate the invaluable records held at Battersea Arts Centre. This role might particularly suit newly qualified archivists wishing to diversify their archival experience or theatre graduates interested in research. We are looking for someone who is excited by this opportunity and keen to learn. You will be interested in the kind of theatre BAC produces, which is driven by our mission: ‘to invent the future of theatre’.
Key Tasks
• Involvement in all elements of the administration of the Archive project, including cataloguing, dating, indexing and re-boxing, as well as reviewing files for transfer to place of deposit
• Working systematically through the reference binders, checking them against the existing database and digitising all of the ‘uncaptured’ items they contain using a flatbed scanner.
• Inputting information into the cataloguing programme or a database and enhancing catalogue records
• Making the collections accessible for use in research, exhibitions, digitisation or reproduction
• Describing and annotating collections.
• Assisting in researching in past BAC productions
• Creating interactive digital tools to showcase the archive collection
• Working as part of a volunteer team to secure the heritage and history of BAC
Personal Attributes
• An enthusiastic approach with a willingness to learn
• An interest in arts, archives and heritage
• Some experience in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and the internet
• Attention to detail
• The ability to work as part of a team
• The desire to pursue a career in administration or the arts
• Background in Theatre or Archives (desirable)
How to apply
To apply, please send your completed application form to [log in to unmask] by 6pm on the closing date.
Closing date: Monday 3rd December 2012
Starting date: ideally week commencing 7th January 2013
Please note that this is an unpaid placement.
